p53 overexpression in small hepatocellular carcinomas containing two different histologic grades.
There is evidence to suggest that a focus of less-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may arise within a pre-existing well-differentiated HCC, eventually replacing it. In the present study, the p53 tumor suppressor gene was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 31 hepato-cellular carcinomas (HCCs) containing two or more regions in the same nodule with different histologic grades. p53 was overexpressed in the nucleus in 13 of 31 HCCs (42%), in seven of which p53 overexpression was seen only in the less-differentiated area of the tumor. This suggests that overexpression of presumed mutant p53 may have contributed to dedifferentiation during the development of HCC.
Nakashima
Y
Y
Division of Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Hsia
C C
CC
Yuwen
H
H
Minemura
M
M
Nakashima
O
O
Kojiro
M
M
Tabor
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged